Combined closure and dispenser



May 25, 1954 R. 'r. LEACH COMBINED CLOSURE AND DISPENSER Filed Dec. 4, 1950 FIG.

A' IK Bra FIG.2

FIG.3

INVENTOR RALPH T. LEACH ATTORNEY Patented May 25, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED CLOSURE AND DISPENSER Ralph T. Leach, Evansville, Ind.

Application December 4, 1950, Serial No. 199,037

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to dispensing and more particularly to a combined closure and dispenser for use on conventional bottles and jars and adapted to be substituted for the usual closures provided thereon and facilitate dispensing particularly of viscous fluids such as catsup, mustard and the like.

Numerous devices have been proposed for a similar purpose, but these devices have been complicated, were not always effective for their intended use, and in some cases were readily damaged and made inoperative.

One object of the present invention is to provide a simple and economical device which will overcome the disadvantages enumerated above.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combined closure and dispenser which may be readily substituted for or used in conjunction with the conventional closure for bottles and jars and which may be utilized to facilitate the dispensing of viscous liquids or fluids from a bottle, jar, or similar container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character described which is formed of a relatively few simply molded parts which are readily assembled and attached to a bottle or jar, and which will withstand substantial abuse without any damage thereto or any effect on the operation of the device.

Further objects and advantages of the inven tion will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view illustrating one preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the mode of operation of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to the view shown in Fig. 2 illustrating one modification of the present invention; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view illustrating another modification of the present invention particularly adapted for use on catsup bottles or similar bottles having an unthreaded neck of relatively small diameter.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a combined closure and dispenser is shown which is particularly adapted for use on mustard jars and other similar containers of viscous fluids having a relatively large neck threaded on the outside and usually provided with a screw type closure cap.

The jar or container I 0 is normally provided with a metal cap or a threaded ring such as shown at I2 which is screwed on the threaded neck l4 of the jar. For use with the present invention the ring l2 may consist of a threaded ring commonly used with a sealing disc or may be a conventional cap with the central circular portion removed.

A molding [5 which is formed of some flexible and elastic material such as soft rubber is provided with a peripheral circular flange [6 which engages the edge of the opening on the jar as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and is provided with an opening adjacent one edge for receiving the tubular conduit !8 which has one end portion 20 angled downwardly and extending to the bottom of the jar adjacent one outer edge and a curved spout 22 extending outwardly for dispensing the viscous fluid.

The molding 15 also has integrally formed thereon a bulb 24 which is provided with an axial opening 26 in a boss 28 formed on the upper surface thereof. It may be desirable to have a plastic sleeve 30 which surrounds a portion of the molding and covers the metal ring l2 to provide a neat and attractive appearance.

In some instances it may be desirable to eliminate the use of the metal ring l2 and the necessity for cutting the circular opening out of the metal cap frequently provided on containers of this nature, and provide a plastic ring 32, as shown in Fig. 3, which is provided with internal threads 34 adapted to engage the threads l4 provided on the neck of the jar or container 10. The plastic ring 32 has numerous advantages, since it will not rust or corrode in the manner of the metal ring or cap and may be used repeatedly on successive jars of fluid, as they are bought by the consumer.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, a dispenser has been provided which is more suitable for use on bottles or other containers having a relatively small diameter neck, such as those usually found on catsup bottles, which is not always provided with threads on the outer surface. In this modification the bulb is similarly molded out of a flexible and elastic material such as soft rubber and is provided with a bulb portion 36 integrally formed on a tapered neck portion 38 which is adapted to fit snugly within the neck of the jar, bottle or other container 40. r

The neck 38 is provided with one or more pas sages 42 and an axial passage of larger diameter which receives a tubular conduit 44 extending down to a point adjacent the bottom of the bottle or container 40. The upper portion of the tubular conduit 44 is curved at 46 to substantially conform to the shape of the bulb 36 and is reversely curved at 48 to provide a spout for facilitating dispensing of the contents. The portion 48 extends through a suitable opening formed in the top of the rubber bulb 36, which is also provided with one or more smaller openings 50 in the side walls for admission of air.

The manner of using the devices shown will be obvious from the above description but will be described briefly in connection with Figs. 2 and 4.

After the device has been applied to the top of the jar or container [0 the operator places his finger on the opening 26 and presses the bulb portion 24 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2. The air pressure thus formed inside or" the container will force a portion of the liquid out through the curved pouring spent 22. Upon release the bulb 24 will resume its normal shape It will b obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and. scope thereof, and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A cap structure for dispensing liquid material for application to an open top container comprising a flange of resilient material for engagement with the open-top of a container to provide a fluid tight seal, a ring having a cylindrical portion for engagement with the sides of the open a top container with the inner portion of said cylindrical portion being of substantially the same dimension as said flange, said ring having a ledge projecting from said ring and being of a dimenand a subsequent operation will force more air under pressure into the interior of the container.

This may be repeated as often as necessary 'to' dispense the desired amount of the viscous fiuid or liquid contents of the container 40.

Similarly, in the use of the device shown in Fig. 4, the operator's fingers will be placed over the openings 50 on the outside of the bulb 3E, the bulb will be squeezed between the fingers to force air through passages 42 into th inside of the container 40 and the pressure thus formed within the container will force a portion of the contents thereof out through the tubular conduit 44 and through the curved portion or dispensing spout 48. These devices may be used innumerable times, since the construction is simple and the parts are formed of strong durable materials which are not readily broken or put out of order. The device can be used repeatedly on successive bottles, jars or other containers.

If desired a small cap (not shown) may also be provided to screw on or fit tightly over the outer end of either one of the dispensing spouts 22 and 4B which will prevent the contents of the container particularly that portion in the tubular conduit from drying out and becoming hardthus assuring free flow through the spout.

sion substantially that of said resilient flange, a boss of resilient material extending upwardly a substantial distance integral with said flangeand having a portion contacting the inwardly extend ing edge of said ledgefisaid boss having an opening, a discharge tube received. therethrough, "a' resilient, readily deformable hollow dome-shaped member integral with said flange and integral with said boss along its upward extent above "said flange and spanning'the distance from said boss to th oppositeportionof said flange, said hollow dome-shaped member being completely open at the bottom and having a small opening which may be closed by a finger, said cap structure being readily attachable to and detachable from an'o'pen top container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number I Name Date 2,002,635 Kinney May 28, 1935 2,105,370 Paul .i Jan. 11, 1938 2,109,957 Severson Jan. 18, 1938 2,177,161 Wilder t al Oct. 24, 1939 2,431,192 Munson NOV. 18, 1947 

